Soul & the Afterlife

Aish.com is offering a free 24-page compendium exploring the Jewish view of the Next World.  The Ebook is entitled Soul & the Afterlife.  Some of the most popular posts that I have made on this blog were dealing with this subject.  I received my copy on Email and I believe many of my readers would enjoy receiving a copy of this most informative publication.  Just click on:

Soul & the Afterlife

And get your copy.

Strickly a suggestion from me is that Aish HaTorah is one of the finest sources of learning on the web.  No obligation, but the website offers an opportunity to donate to Aish.com.  I have for years and encourage your help as well.

Enjoy

The Law (Halachah)

Halachah is so involved and so complicated to figure out, there is no way that we can ascertain final Halachic ruling by studying the Talmud.  The Talmud argues every aspect of the law to show how Hashem wanted the Torah to be interpreted.  It is very rare that you see the word opinion in the Talmud; but, instead, the arguments are almost always what information was handed down over the years by the Rabbaim.  Most statements are said as "Rabbi So-and-so said in the name of Rabbi So-and-so."  In other words, the Rabbi heard from his Rabbi.  That is telling us that the information traces back to when we were in Bamidbar (the desert) for forty years where the Jews first learned it from Moshe Rabbeinu.  Most of the information was not just remembered since they were living the details every day.  When you live the Torah on a daily basis the information is very fresh in your mind and is easily transmitted to the next generation.  That is what has happen for the past 3325 years since we learned the Halachah from Moshe Rabbenu.

I have said that figuring out the fine details from the Torah is the most difficult subject in the world making subjects like Nuclear Physics, Brain Surgery, Business Law, etc child's play.  No one in the world can derive final Halachic ruling from the Talmud which is why Hashem gave us codification over the millennia in the Shulchan Aruch,  Mishna Berurah, Rambam commentary, Arizal commentary, etc.  The Talmud serves to teach us how we derived much of the final ruling; but, it is far beyond our human capability to draw the proper conclusions.  Studying Talmud serves other very important purposes that I have already talked about such as helping to keep the universe running (we are partners in the creation).  Learning is also a very important part of our development and reaching Tikun.  The benefit that our soul derives from learning Hashem’s ways is invaluable and perhaps the greatest gift mankind (and womankind) has ever received.

Talmud is not just learning the law but is a discussion of every aspect of life.  There is nothing missing about life on Earth.  If it is missing from the Talmud, it doesn’t exist.  I am not talking just outright information since I have already talked about the Pardes (the four levels) that one could study.  Just be aware that since the Talmud includes everything (including all of science and mathematics as I have talked about), it is the most difficult text in the world and the most challenging (I am talking both the written and oral Torah).

I once told the story about my son at the time our immediate family was becoming observant.  My son was about 21 year old at the time and was a college student.  He came to me one day to ask if he could drop out of college and go to yeshivah.  I was very proud of his feelings towards Hashem and Judaism and consented immediately – sending him to a yeshivah in Jerusalem – an experience that completely changed his life and mine (I went to visit him and discovered that Israel was my true home).  Thank you, Hashem.  Happy children very much enhance the joy of life.  We made this bold change even though he was lacking only four college credits to complete his degree.  After a year at yeshivah, I investigated the possibility of him getting college credit for his yeshivah studies.  There is an organization in New York that will evaluate and accredit studies.  The yeshivah was familiar with this practice and constructed a transcript of my son's efforts for the year.   The yeshivah gave him 18 credits in such subjects as general studies, philosophy, history and language.  When presented to the organization for accreditation, out of the 4 credits that he needed for that college, they gave him 36 credits.  They also told us how much credit would be acceptable at Harvard, Yale, University of Pennsylvania and Hebrew University.  They explained to us that they are totally aware of the intensity of study that occurs at yeshivahs.  They were also aware of the devotion and willingness to learn that yeshivah students have.  There is probably no match in the world for intensive learning than that of a yeshivah.  I attended college full and part time for 16 years including graduate level studies.  I have never seen the level of devotion towards studies as I have in yeshivahs with which I have been associated.  By the way, my son received his degree.  The most important point is the extremely high level of scholarship that is derived from the study of Torah and scriptures in general.  All subjects are covered and to a greater level of understanding than could ever be achieved in college.  That may be hard to believe but the most important aspect of learning is learning how to think.  So many colleges offer cookie-cutter solutions to problems making memorization the tool to achieve a degree not understanding of the material.  Torah study requires a much deeper level of concentration and evaluation causing a much more comprehensive level of intelligence to be developed.  When I started university studies back in the Stone Age, there was much more thinking since I am talking pre-computer.  Now, if we want information, the library and books are passé, we can Google or Wikipedia almost any subject and avoid the horrible concept of “thinking.”  Welcome to the 21^st century.  Yeshivot and Kollelim (for adult study) still us books and still require arduous thinking.  B”H

Today, however, most Jews are computer non-thinkers and are always looking for the easy answers.  The problem is (and I have seen it on my blog and every other blog) the people who have an opinion of what Judaism is and what the Torah says about this or that.  An analogy that comes to mind is the difference between a cook and a chef.  Someone who prepares a meal by just following a simple recipe is obviously not of the stature of a great chef who studied the culinary arts for years.  The tremendous attention to detail that is needed in preparing a sumptuous meal such as picking the proper, fresh ingredients, combining those ingredients in the proper sequence and proportions, proper seasoning, proper moisture level, knowing your cooking or baking equipment and exactly how to use them (timing, temperature, etc), knowing portion control for the size group that you may be serving, keeping things at the proper serving temperature, an appetizing appearance being presented to your guest, etc, etc, etc.  It sounds complicated and it is, in fact it is an art; but, it is a far cry from just following a simple recipe.  Or, as I do which is take the wonderful leftovers that my wife prepared last night, microwave it, serve it and then tell everyone that I prepared dinner.  No I am not a chef, I am not even a cook but I do operate a mean microwave.

My whole point is the detail at which I learn Hashem’s word can result in a sumptuous meal fit for a king or a fast food serving fit for no one.  What is the best recipe for life, success and happiness is not cookie-cutter learning but years and years of deep and dedicated hard work.  I’ve said it before, what we come out of this life with is measure-for-measure what we put into it.  We have the greatest opportunity to excel for all eternity.  Why not take it?  One last note:  Hashem is not interested in what we learn, but how we live our lives – in other words, how we apply what we learn.  A brilliant Torah scholar does not make a Tzadik; but, a Tzadik makes a brilliant Torah scholar since he is obviously putting his learning into action. 

More Questions Answered

I have been asked several questions on Email (three different Email accounts), Skype, telephone, and in person that I thought would be good to share with you on this blog.

 

Question:  One thing I never understood is I thought the Talmud was the oral law and the oral law as given to Moses with the written Torah at Sinai. But, the Talmud is discussions by real people. So, no one knows what the oral laws, and therefore the Halachah, which was given us by G-d really says.

Answer:  The Talmud consists of two parts.  The Mishnayot which were all the laws handed down from Sinai, and Gomorrah which is the detailed discussion and analysis of the Mishnayot.  It is all more miraculous than I am talking about; since, Yehudah HaNasi, who compiled the Mishnayot, brought together Rabbis from all over, who did not know each other, and they all had the exact same information.  Also, Hashem told us to listen to the Rabbis, that they will continue to give us Hashem's word.  There is more outright prophecy in Gomorrah than can be read in Tenach  Were writers of Gomorrah prophets?   No, but their words were definitely from Hashem since they said many, many things that would have made no sense to them, but are profound, clear words to us.  It is also said that Moshe Rabbeinu saw in the spaces between the words of the written Torah all the information of the Oral Torah  With Hashem everything is possible; and, there is no doubt that the Talmud is miraculous and Hashem's word.

Be aware that the Talmud does not establish Halachah; it is merely extensive discussion that argues how we go from the Torah mitzvah to Halachah and even minhagim (customs).  Over thousands of years the Halachah was codified by the Rabbis.  The Shulchan Aruch and in more modern times the Mishna Berurah are the standards for Halachah  It even gets more complicated since the Ashkenazim may use one authority such as Rav Moshe Feinstein, zt"l; while, the Sephardim may lean more to the Arizal or more modern Sephardic Rabbaim.  Then there is regional minhagim (the US, Europe, Israel) all have their own take on the fine details.  Hashem wants us to study Torah and therefore made it much deeper and not a simple solution.  There is commentary by the R' Moshe Dovid Valli, a student of the Ramchal, who tells of how climate and the environment at different parts of the world causes differences in the Neshama and, therefore different requirements in our daily activities.  It is the reason that the Ashkenazim and the Sephardim have differences in Tefillah.  This gets very deep, but extremely interesting.

Since I am one that topic of Halachah, I thought I would make one more attempt at answering Mr. Anonymous who insists that I am not answering him but avoiding him.  Even though he had not been nice to me, the Torah tells me that I am required to help every person that I can and not just ignore them.  The question about me saying not to do any particular Halachah is a very big misunderstanding.  First of all, I have asked several times: what is the Halachah that you feel that I am violating?  It can’t be that I am telling people not to vote, since there is no such Halachah.  But, as I have said before, any Halachah that presents a danger is not to be done.  A medical emergency, for instance, on the Shabbat allows me to make a phone call or even drive a car.  To save a life it is considered a sin if I keep the Halachah instead of saving a life.  In our case of voting, If the only candidates that I have available to vote for are evil man, I should avoid voting.  My evidence of their evil ways I could write a book about.  In other words, if there were such a Halachah that requires me to vote and the only candidates that are available have an agenda to kill me and my family, I am obligated not to vote.  That is not me deciding Halachah, but following the ways of Hashem.

When I stated that the rabbis are saying “it is time to move to Israel,” I am referring to all Rabbis -- thousands throughout the world.  If you want the list of all of them it will take me a couple months to compile.  If you have paid attention to the blogs that have discussed this, you would have seen just about every Rabbi mentioned in the blog has talked about it being time and making an effort to make Aliyah.  We also have the autistics.  They have all said it is time.  Why are they saying this?  Because, it is throughout the Tenach that in the end of days all Jews will return to Israel.  Everyone is convinced we are in the end of days and since the world has become so chaotic, it is good advice – to move to Israel.  It's no coincidence that it just happens to be in this week's parsha of the Torah, Lech Lecha, that Abraham was told to leave his home and go to the place that Hashem will tell him.  This was not just instructions for Abraham, but was prophecy for us.  The meaning of Lech Lecha is not just to go, but go for yourself.  That means that we are being instructed to go to Israel for our own benefit, for our own safety.  The world is a dangerous place.  The message throughout Scriptures is that Israel is the only safe place in the world for a Jew.  If you don't believe that then you are lacking faith and trust than Hashem.  Check statistics as to your chances of getting hurt or killed outside of Israel versus in Israel.  It is an eye-opener.

It is very unfair to me if you ask a question that is not a real question.  As an example if you ask me why I am telling people not to do a Halachah that doesn't exist (except in your mind); how should I respond to that?  It's like me asking you the question: Have you stopped beating your wife yet?  You may answer “I'm not even married” to which I would answer that wasn't my question; I asked “Have you stopped beating your wife yet?”   In other words to ask a totally non-relevant, nonsensical question and demand three times an answer is unfair to me and is very contrary to Torah.  To bother Yaak on his blog is even more nonsensical; he has nothing to do with our discussion.   Use some common sense and put yourself in my shoes – being nasty to a fellow Jew (if you are even Jewish) is against Torah.  To debate Halachah when you have obviously proven your lack of scholarship on the subject is weak at best, and is a waste of time – mine and my readers.  I’ve said it before; the fact that I am more concerned about your welfare than you are is very troubling.  Reconsider your priorities and do the right thing – help yourself understand the reality here.   Get a name since Anonymous is mostly used by those who are ashamed of their lack of scholarship (I am not talking about very good people who signed in as Anonymous and put their names at the end of their comment.  I am still making an effort to eliminate the Anonymous possibility on the comment posting; but, I did not design the blog template so I don’t expect to succeed on that one.

Another comment that needs to be said is according to Pirchei Avos, I am old enough to give Mussar and you are probably young enough to listen and learn.  It is important to know that whether you agree or not with anything that I say is irrelevant, the truth doesn't go away.  If you can prove me wrong, not with your opinion but with your scholarship – showing me in scriptures exactly where I am in error – I will change my statements immediately.  I am interested in helping everyone who reads my blog and leading no one astray.  I am always, always ready to learn (and I have from many of my readers) but only what is the Absolute Truth not the opinion of a person who has flawed logic – no matter how good it sounds.

Be nice.  And you will find me to be exceptionally nice in return – it’s the Torah way.

Who and Where is Amalek Today?

March 8th, 2011, In Articles, Festivals, by Yossi Katz

The Midrash relates: Cursed are the wicked. They occupy their time with ideas about how to destroy the Jews, with each one vying for the honor of having the best idea. Esav ridiculed Cain for killing Abel during Adam’s lifetime.. If Cain wanted the whole world for himself, he should have realized that Adam was still alive and could have more children. Esav was not going to make that mistake. He would wait until Yitzchok’s death and then kill Yaakov. Later, it was Pharaoh’s turn to laugh at Esav. Didn’t Esav know that Yaakov could have children before Yitzchok died? Nothing would be gained by killing Yaakov if he had offspring that would survive him. Pharaoh thought himself smarter than Esav. He would kill every Jewish male at birth. Centuries later it was Pharaoh’s turn to be thought a fool, by Haman. Didn't Pharaoh understand that even if one Jewish male remained he could father the nation anew? Haman’s plan was to kill them all!

The Midrash concludes by teaching that in the future, Gog and Magog will deride Haman. Didn’t Haman know that the Jews have a Father in Heaven Who will never let them be destroyed as long as they do His bidding? So they will first do battle with G-d by keeping the Jews from observing the Torah and mitzvot. This will enable them to destroy the Jews. But G-d’s response to this is clear: “I have many messengers whom I can send into battle. But the war against Gog and Magog I shall wage Myself. Their destruction shall be complete” (Esther Rabbah 7:23.)

Today, though Amalek definitely and unfortunately exists, we cannot say with certainty who, or where, all of them are. However, there is a noteworthy exception. When Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany visited Jerusalem during his journey to the Holy Land almost all the religious leaders of Jerusalem came to the city gates to greet him. Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld (d.1932), the spiritual leader of Ashkenazic Jewry in Israel at that time, did not go. When asked about his refusal he answered that although the Kaiser himself was deserving of the honor bestowed upon him, “I have a tradition that Germany is Amalek.”

The Amalek Within
Our Sages teach that G-d says to the Jews, “If you do not remember Amalek, you will be sent back to the bondage of Egypt”  (Pesikta Rabati 12). This is exhibited frequently on a personal level. The modus operandi that Amalek has always used in attacking the Jews can be described in a word: Devious. He gets the international community embroiled in some sort of political or military conflict for example, the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait or he gets Jews to engage in some worthy cause “civil rights” all with one goal in mind: The annihilation of the Jews. Amalek has the same numerical value (240) as “safek”, doubt (B’nei Yissaschar, Purim). The Amalek that is omnipresent today are the questions and doubts that we have regarding our faith. This includes the uncertainties, confusion and troubles we face when we lack proper direction and advice. When we strengthen ourselves in true faith in G-d, we overpower the Amalek within.

Reb Noson writes that Amalek corresponds to burning lust, the strife between husband and wife, between a person and his community and the hatred directed against the true tzaddikim (Likutey Halakhot, Minchah 7:20).

An additional aspect of Amalek that is prevalent today: False leaders.
“The Torah writes [Amalek] smote the hindmost among you” (Deuteronomy 25:18). Our Sages teach: “[Amalek] separates the tails and throws them high (Tanchuma, Ki Taytze 10). Reb Noson writes: “Amalek found a clever way to destroy the Jewish nation. ‘He takes the tails,’ people of little or no stature and ‘throws them high’ makes them into Jewish leaders (Likutey Halakhot, Shabbat, 5:9). Thus, the Jewish people have been fooled into thinking that their leaders are men of stature when in reality many of them are ordinary people who lack the ability to guide. A nation without proper leaders is easily misled, and so many unsuspecting and misguided Jews end up living a life devoid of real Jewish meaning.

Yet another face of Amalek that plagues us today is forgetfulness (ibid., Aveidah u’Metzia 1:3). We forget G-d’s goodness, the countless times He’s helped us in many ways, large and small (ibid., Nachlot 4:12). This leads to our forgetting about G-d, the Torah and mitzvot, and even the Moshiach, who will bring the Ultimate Redemption. Perhaps, since Amalek represents forgetfulness, we’re instructed to remember what he did. Even though we don’t know which individuals today are Amalekites, the mitzvah to remember the evil, ruthless and cruel behavior they personify, remains. This mitzvah is fulfilled when we recite the passage in Deuteronomy 25, verses 17-19. This is done communally on the Sabbath preceding Purim. Some have a custom of saying these verses daily (see Sha’ar HaKavannot, Inyan Yotzer Or, p.119)

Ultimately, Amalek will be destroyed. He will be set upon by thieves who will leave him penniless (Tana d’Bei Eliyahu Raba 24) Then G-d Himself will battle Amalek, exposing him for the sinner that he is before removing him from the face of the earth (Tana d’Bei Eliyahu Zuta 19). May this take place quickly, in our lifetime, Amen.

About The Author - Yossi Katz
Yossi Katz currently lives in Lakewood, NJ where he runs the BRI American Office. He studied in Beth Medrash Gevoha, as well as the former Breslov Kollel of Lakewood headed by Rabbi Shlomo Goldman.

Amalek is as much a concept as it is people.  The concept of evil that has been our nemesis throughout history stems from the initial prophecy in the Torah that Amalek came from a distance away (we did not bother him nor encroach upon his domain) simply to kill us.  This became the general concept that any enemy throughout history that wanted to destroy us was called Amalek.  Take note that the above mentions several times that we are not talking a single individual but any leader, military figure, politician, etc who is destructive and dangerous to the Jewish nation are designated as Amalekites.  Even the concept of each one of us who is not doing everything according to the ways of Hashem needs to eradicate the Amalek within us.  This idea is prevalent in the commentary of Parshas Zachor that we recite on Shabbat before Purim (the story of the Amalekite Haman who was a descendant of Amalek).

Now read an article posted on October 21, 2012
In Featured Stories,News In Focus,Paul Watson Articles

Obama and Romney: War No Matter Who Wins Election
Kurt Nimmo
Prison Planet.com October 21, 2012

Once again emphasizing there is no fundamental difference between Obama and Romney when it comes to attacking Iran, the American Jewish Committee has published the answers to a questionnaire sent to the candidates.

From the Jewish Telegraphic Agency ^[1] website:
“I am prepared to use all elements of American power” to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, Obama said in the questionnaires released Oct. 18 by the AJC, “including a political effort to further isolate Iran, a diplomatic effort to sustain our coalition, an economic effort that has imposed crippling sanctions, and a military effort to be prepared for any contingency.

”Romney’s response was nearly identical:
“I will press for ever tightening sanctions on the regime, acting multilaterally where we can and unilaterally where we must, and leave no doubt in the mind of the regime’s leaders that the military option remains on the table.”

Romney tried to make political points by sucking up to Israel and the Israeli lobby in the United States: “Unlike President Obama, I understand that distancing the U.S. from Israel does not earn us credibility in the Arab world or bring peace closer,” he said. “Instead, it encourages Palestinians to hold out and wait for Washington to deliver more Israeli concessions.”

Romney said he plans to create “regional directors” who “will possess unified budgetary and policy authority.”

The JTA’s response to this development: “With such powers concentrated in an individual, pro-Israel group would likely closely watch and want to influence whomever a Romney administration would name to the Middle East post.”

In fact, pro-Israel neocons already dictate Romney’s Middle East foreign policy. Fifteen of the 22 members of Romney’s foreign policy team were policy advisers under Bush, and six of them are former members of PNAC, Joseph Sarkisian ^[2] points out.

Neocons from the American Enterprise Institute, the Brookings Institute, and the Hudson Institute dominate Romney’s advisors. “The American-Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) thinks highly of these policy advisers, who are all ardent supporters of the Israeli desire to end Iran’s nuclear program with force if necessary,” writes Sarkisian.

“Just like in Iraq, there is no verifiable proof of WMD in Iran, yet once again the same group of people wants to use the same methods to start a similar war for the interests of the few, with no regard for the consequences,” he concludes.

Poll results are, of course, highly misleading, but if we are to believe the latest results Romney and Obama are locked in a dead heat ^[3] sixteen days out from the election.

Establishment fount Forbes ^[4] predicts that if Obama gets re-elected, Israel will attack Iran in January, a move that will undoubtedly be supported by the United States.

Despite Romney’s coterie of neocons, Democrat Chuck Schumer ^[5] believes Obama is more likely to attack Iran than his opponent. “I’ll tell you this on Iran, and I've said this to a couple of Romney supporters who agree, that if the sanctions fail, and military action is warranted, a re-elected President Obama is far more likely to launch that kind of military action, probably in concert with Israel, than would Mitt Romney,” Schumer told CNN in September.

Following Obama’s lackadaisical performance during the first debate, his administration “leaked” a plan for striking Iran’s nuclear facilities. CFR member and visiting scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, David Rothkopf ^[6], wrote in Foreign Policy earlier this month that the White House and Israeli officials “assert that the two sides behind the scenes have come closer together in their views [regarding Iran] in recent days.”

Rothkopf quoted a “source close to the discussions” as saying that a surgical strike aimed at Iran’s enrichment facilities “might take only ‘a couple of hours’” at best and would be conducted by air using bombers and drones.

Despite the outcome of the election, a strike on Iran – limited, surgical or otherwise – will occur within the next few months, if not weeks.

---

URLs in this post:
[1] Jewish Telegraphic Agency: http://www.jta.org/news/article/2012/10/21/3109811/romney-obama-pledge-to-isolate-iran-support-israel-in-ajc-questionnaire
[2] Joseph Sarkisian: http://www.policymic.com/articles/3662/warning-mitt-romney-s-advisers-are-george-bush-neocons-calling-for-war-with-iran
[3] locked in a dead heat: http://www.usatoday.com/story/theoval/2012/10/21/barack-obama-mitt-romney-nbc-news-poll-dead-heat/1647195/
[4] Forbes: http://www.forbes.com/sites/petercohan/2012/09/30/if-obama-gets-second-term-israels-january-attack-on-iran-looms-large/2/
[5] Chuck Schumer: http://dailycaller.com/2012/09/12/schumer-a-re-elected-obama-far-more-likely-than-romney-to-launch-military-attack-on-iran/
[6] David Rothkopf: http://www.infowars.com/u-s-and-israel-planning-joint-attack-on-iran/ .

I have stated that both Obama and Romney are in cahoots with the Bush Cabal that is bent upon the evil concept of the New World Order.  Unfortunately, I cannot disclose my sources for this information since they are Washington insiders who would cut me off from information if disclosed.  Suffice it to say that these sources have provided me with extremely accurate information for many years and I trust their present take on the situation.  There are other reasons (that I expect to disclose, B”N, in the near future about other devious activities from both Obama and Romney) that also prove their evil, self-serving ways.  The most important thing to take from this is that the concept of Amalek fits these two individuals perfectly.  If you don't believe that they are dangerous individuals involved in the same diabolical plot, then you may find yourself a victim of their madness.  I know that voting for either one of them is a vote against Hashem and the goodness of this world – as Amalek represents.

Additional notes:
I was asked if I am permitted to suggest an act that seems to go against Halachah.  The example here is my telling you not to vote for these individuals.  Hashem has never given us a Halachah that can put us in danger.  A common sense evaluation would tell you that voting for an evil individual that is working to destroy 90% of the world population goes against Hashem’s instructions to work with the civilian government.  Yes, we are instructed to cooperate with the government of the country that we live in, but never, I repeat, never if they advocate anything that is completely contrary to Hashem’s ways.  If a government told us to stop Bris Millah, or Ritual slaughter of Kosher animals (both of which have occurred recently in various evil countries), it is obvious that we are involved in a Chillu Hashem that we are not allowed to honor.  Very specifically, there is no Halachah to vote especially for a tyrant who is interested in the demise of Hashem’s nation (I take that as a very personal danger to me and my family).

The Torah is our guide through life and would never include misguided information to lead us to destruction.

One additional question that I was asked.
If I am not interested in people posting as Anonymous, why do I have it as a possibility on my blog?  I am not the web designer.  Blogspot, which provides bloggers a template for posting blogs, is the designer.  I attempted to remove the Anonymous from the comment posting, but to no avail since it is part of the programming from Blogspot.  I complain only because “Anonymous” has been used almost completely by the negative, most uninformed individuals (who are obviously ashamed of their shortcomings).  Since I am interested in the welfare of my readers, and I know how much damage an individual can be doing to him or herself by such negativity, it pains me to see such posting.  I have provided an Email address for anyone who wishes to question anything that I write.  That has been very successful and has been used by many.  To arrogantly state without proof that I am wrong about something serves no benefit to the poster, me or any reader who wants to learn.  Please, please, please ask questions; don't make derogatory statements. Never feel embarrassed by a question or even if you learned something that is contrary to what I have posted.  You have two choices:  send a private Email to question the difference in information or state your belief but with scriptural proof.  I am human.  I make mistakes and will be the first to research any disagreements presented.  But since March, when I started this blog, I have had one legitimate mistake pointed out to me that I immediately corrected.  The rest of the negative comments were either subjects, that I was able scripturally support my presented information or the comment was totally useless, such as “that is not the truth.”

One interesting thing that each one of you can learn from the way you feel about anything that I post “is that my true feeling about the subject or is it the Amalek in me leading me astray?”  Yes, we all have some Amalek to eliminate.  The most important thing in studying Torah and Hashem’s ways is recognizing the Amalek side of us and knowing how to get rid of it.  That is the most beneficial part of the Halachah to “eliminate Amalek.”

More Details about Yesterday’s Post

Question:Why is Homeland Security buying millions of rounds of hollow point bullets for "training?"

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/08/19/Government-Long-on-Hollow-Point-Bullets-Short-on-Answers

The report that I saw was 1.3 billion rounds – not millions.  I have had several comments doubting some of my extensive research.  If couldn’t possibly be as bad as I have said or is it?

Why has DHS purchased so many rounds?   For the same reason that FEMA has purchased millions of plastic coffins.   The upcoming martial law and use of the concentration camps is part of the plan to implement the New World Order.  The Illuminati plan has been around for hundreds of years to reduce the world population to about 500 million.   That would require 90% of the world population being eliminated.   That is why the Bilderberg group is trying very hard to instigate World War 3 -- a nuclear holocaust -- that would reduce the world population to a manageable level.  The New World Order would be a Communist, one world,  government with a single money currency.   The elite members of the Bilderberg Group (about 120 to 140 of the richest and most influential leaders of the world) would head this government and would own all the assets of the world.   No person outside of the group would own anything (property, clothes, food).   This level of greed and evil is beyond belief but is very much being implemented.   Obama and Romney are involved and report to the Bush cabal.   If you believe that this election is to help America, you are living a fantasy that will kill you.  "This could never happen especially in the good old USofA" you say?  That is exactly what they said in Germany in the 1930's.  The scary part is that there are Holocaust survivors in the US that are telling about the great similarities between the 1930's and today.  The evidence for all this is overwhelming and way too extensive for me to cover here.   If you Google Bilderberg (also Illuminati which dates back to 1776 of all years and New World Order) and look towards the bottom about Conspiracy Theory, you will get some pertinent information.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilderberg_Group

Another short Youtube video to watch is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdJ26mfzucQ

You can rest assure that this horror will not happen.  Hashem will take over at the opportune moment and wipe out the evil, measure for measure, by natural disasters as it says numerous places in scriptures.   The only question that is left for each of you is "are you on Hashem's side, or do you still think that there are leaders who are acting on your behalf and will save you?"  If you are a total fool and a gambler, you will go with the leaders and reason that this nonsense that I just espoused couldn't possibly be true (flawed human logic).   I ask you not to believe one word of what I am saying, but to thoroughly investigate the situation.   It is your eternal future and that of everyone you know that is at stake.  If you want to gamble your wellbeing away and kick yourself for all eternity, that is your choice.  I am sorry to be so blunt about what is happening but I can’t believe some of the comments and Emails that I am getting who are in total disbelief.

It still amazes me that I am so much more concerned about your personal welfare and that of your loved ones than many of you are -- but that is the Torah Jew in me.  That is what Hashem wants from me and each of you.  Get with the program and survive and thrive or trust in people and meet total defeat.  It is your choice.  Choose life.

For Whom am I Voting?

Even though I have not been posting on a regular basis, I am still in touch with many of my readers. Yesterday I was asked by no fewer than 10 readers (by e-mail) "for whom am I voting?"  Rather than repeat myself many times, I thought I would give my answer on this blog.

I don't really know whether there will even be an election and I don't care.  The US of A is on the verge of destruction and all the Jews will be here soon (here being Israel).  So which Amalek do I choose to destroy America and the world (especially Israel)?  My answer is:  “I am doing a write-in vote for Moshiach!!!!!”  B”N.

It is all Hashem's plan.  The best way to get all the Jews of the world to repent is to make this world so scary that everyone realizes that only turning to Hashem will save us.  By providing us with two very evil candidates both of which are no good for America, Israel or the world, things will get so bad that we will only be able to rely on Hashem for salvation.

Intelligent people realize that Obama in his first four years was very destructive for the world. His second four years would be a disaster.  Likewise, Romney has skeletons in his closet of which the world is not aware.  I am not going into great detail about the evil that he is involved with; but. I guarantee he is not good for America or Israel.  As with past presidents, Hashem has made it look like we have a possible good candidate – only to discover after the individual takes office, how his self-serving agenda has changed and had nothing to do with helping people.  Do you remember Jimmy Carter the man who gave away the Sinai which resulted in a total lack of security for Israel and eventually allowed Gaza to become a haven for terrorists?  What is comical about the situation is that Carter recently wrote a book telling us how horrible Gaza is.  Did he realize before he wrote the book that he was the cause?  Then look at Gog Bush Senior who began the peace process, you remember the wonderful Oslo Accord, between Israel and the world's worst terrorists. He did not complete it; but, along came Bill Clinton whose wonderful effort has caused thousands of Israeli deaths and hasn't done anything for the Arabs in the area either.  You remember Clinton, the president that was impeached for his illicit activities, but not removed from office.  And, we have Gog Bush Junior who became known as the killing president, responsible for about 10,000 lives lost on 9/11 (that includes all the first responders who have died over the years from the asbestos that was in the collapsed World Trade Center buildings). 9/11 was the excuse that Gog Bush used to kill an estimated 1.6 million Iraqis and about 50,000 Afghanis (including 1,000’s of our fine US military personnel).  Then we come to our favorite Muslim, Obama.  He is working diligently to try to get World War III started.  Believe it or not he is in cahoots with Gog Bush senior, Gog Bush Junior, and (here is the real shocker) even Mitt Romney in an effort to institute the New World Order.  Their self-serving agenda is very evil as the New World Order is very evil and good for no one (except for the wealthy elite who wish to steal the world from its population after 90% of the world population has been eliminated – much more manageable, don’t you think?).  The details about the NWO are too extensive for a discussion here; but, it is fact, not speculation.

How could all this happen; that these individuals, who looked like they would be so good for America and Israel?  They got into office and became so destructive.  It is what Hashem wanted.  How do we know? Let us look at some of the most unbelievable events that brought these presidents into office.  In the year 2000 when Al Gore won the election; but, Hashem preferred Gog Bush.  So, with the help of the Supreme Court of the United States, Bush won. How could someone like Obama, a black Muslim who wasn't even born in the United States, which is against the Constitution of the United States, become president?  Hashem wanted him, so he is there. Both situations are impossible; but, Hashem wanted it, so it happened.  Even Bill Clinton being impeached and continuing as though nothing had happened (we haven’t even talked about his financial impropriety which seemed to have disappeared).  Are you starting to catch on?  Only Hashem runs the world -- no person can go against His will or His plan.

I have talked about Geula already happening and 5772.  The true Geula process is happening in shamayim.  Everyone on this fantasy world is having difficulty seeing in front of their faces.  Everyone is in a cloud.  The elections are bogus and have nothing to do with reality.  Stop looking at the news from the Jew-hating media.  It is a diversion from reality.  Obama and Romney are allusions -- they probably don't even exist; and, they certainly mean nothing to us.  One who truly sees the plan of Hashem is able to grasp the reality of today.  We recited Hallel this morning and yesterday morning for Rosh Chodesh which included the instruction to “Trust in Hashem, not people.”  I believe that anyone who votes in the American election, if it even happens, is turning to people in this fantasy world and not trusting Hashem.  In order to survive the coming holocaust the only answer is to follow Hashem.  Watching the every move of Obama or Romney, such as the ridiculous debates, is so nonsensical and counter-productive.  Follow Hashem instead, and do tremendous things for yourself and your loved ones.

For whom am I voting? Hashem is the only answer!

Afterlife Exists Says Top Brain Surgeon

A prominent scientist who had previously dismissed the possibility of the afterlife says he has reconsidered his belief after experiencing an out of body experience which has convinced him that heaven exists.

While in a coma the neurosurgeon says he was met by a beautiful woman in a 'place of clouds, big fluffy pink-white ones' 

By Mark Hughes, New York

7:52PM BST 09 Oct 2012

2253 Comments

Dr Eben Alexander, a Harvard-educated neurosurgeon, fell into a coma for seven days in 2008 after contracting meningitis.
During his illness Dr Alexander says that the part of his brain which controls human thought and emotion "shut down" and that he then experienced "something so profound that it gave me a scientific reason to believe in consciousness after death."  In an essay for Newsweek (and reprinted in the Telegraph of the UK), which he wrote to promote his book Proof of Heaven, Dr Alexander says he was met by a beautiful blue-eyed woman in a "place of clouds, big fluffy pink-white ones" and "shimmering beings".

He continues: "Birds? Angels?  These words registered later, when I was writing down my recollections. But neither of these words do justice to the beings themselves, which were quite simply different from anything I have known on this planet.  They were more advanced.  Higher forms.  The doctor adds that a “huge and booming like a glorious chant, came down from above, and I wondered if the winged beings were producing it.  The sound was palpable and almost material, like a rain that you can feel on your skin but doesn't get you wet."

Dr Alexander says he had heard stories from patients who spoke of outer body experiences but had disregarded them as "wishful thinking" but has reconsidered his opinion following his own experience.  He added: "I know full well how extraordinary, how frankly unbelievable, all this sounds.  Had someone even a doctor told me a story like this in the old days, I would have been quite certain that they were under the spell of some delusion.

"But what happened to me was, far from being delusional, as real, or more real, than any event in my life. That includes my wedding day and the birth of my two sons."  He added: "I've spent decades as a neurosurgeon at some of the most prestigious medical institutions in our country.  I know that many of my peers hold as I myself did to the theory that the brain, and in particular the cortex, generates consciousness and that we live in a universe devoid of any kind of emotion, much less the unconditional love that I now know G-d and the universe have toward us.

"But that belief, that theory, now lies broken at our feet.  What happened to me destroyed it."

I thought this was an appropriate follow-up to my blog post “Near Death Experience” dated 25 April 2012.  After all this is from a highly prominent Harvard-educated neurosurgeon; so, he must know the truth.  As I stated in my post there are an estimated 30 million people who have had out-of-body or near-death experiences.  They all stated that the experience was more real than being on this Earth, which verifies that this physical existence is not the real life but that our spiritual eternity is.  Slowly but surely the secular world is discovering the truth – let us just hope, on an individual basis, each person gets there before it is too late.  I left in the comment count above (2253 comments  and counting on the article) to show the tremendous interest in the subject and I am very happy to report that most of the comments were positive and from believing people. 

Knowing the truth may be difficult for us humans and even too spooky to think about; but, once again, our eternity depends upon it.  We should all thank Hashem for the information and use it to our advantage.

Don't Expect What You Expect, but Expect the Unexpected

Hashem works in mysterious ways.  Trying to interpret the news and what it means and where it will take us, is an impossible task.  I think Hashem will make sure that we can't figure it out since He wants us to just trust Him and have faith in Him, and all will work out for the best.  There is no truth in the news -- so what is really happening, only Hashem knows for sure.  Just take care of yourself by doing teshuvah, tefillah, tzedukah, helping your fellow Jews and studying Torah.  The rest will work itself out -- Hashem knows what He is doing -- His plan is infallible.  The much more dangerous time that is coming up will be from natural disasters, not war.  That is when Hashem will, measure-for-measure take care of everyone on Earth (goodness for the righteous who follow His ways and suffering for the wicked who do what they want without regard to their Creator).

I have been asked about the too-late-date.  The concept which I have been talking about since March didn't come from me, but from Gedolim.  They are referring to Yom Hadin (judgment day) and suspected that it would be Hoshanah Rabah – today.  I’m the one who changed the name to the “too-late-date” to impress upon everyone the urgency of preparing for the day.

We are all judged at this time of year -- that is what Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are all about.  It is brought down that our final judgment can be extended to Hoshanah Rabah.  Do we get the immediate report card from Hashem?  Never, but the judgment is entered based on how well we followed Hashem's ways.  This year seems very different in the sense that our judgment may be determining the path of our eternity, rather than just the coming year.  All this is known by Hashem and I feel His mercy will work in the favor of every Jew and even every righteous non-Jew.  We will someday (I do believe not too far away) know all and receive our report card.  Most will be pleased since it will be after the suffering and, in some cases, punishment, is completed; in other words, after our complete rectification (Tekun) has been reached.  All I have been saying is not to mess around with the system Hashem has set up, but to use it to our great advantage.  The world situation is pointing to the final judgment and redemption -- we may be a lot closer than we think.  Is it today?  I don't know; but, I do believe it is a very significant day for everyone on Earth, spiritually.  When the final results are known for each of us, all will be made totally clear -- Hashem is merciful and loves us -- we are in Good Hands.  All we need to do is keep up the good work as we have been instructed in the Torah and all will turn out amazingly well.  Just never forget the system is measure-for-measure – what you put into it, is what you will get out of it – in this case possibly for all eternity.

One last area that I have been asked about recently is Gog and Magog.  We read about Gog and Magog during Succos.   Nimukei Yosef to Megillah quotes a tradition from R' Hai Gaon that the victory over Gog and
Magog will take place in the month of Tishrei - the month of Succos.  We still have 10 days to go in Tishrei.  The way things are heating up with Syria and Iran -- who knows (only Hashem).  The most important thing to remember is that there is nothing random in this world.  Many Rabbis believe that the war will be very rapid.  Tenach hints to the concept of Hashem taking over with natural disasters, as mentioned above, making the war insignificant.  The final outcome on an individual basis will not be random but, as it was in Egypt with the plagues, measure-for-measure according to the behavior of each individual.  The righteous (the ones who follow the ways of Hashem) will not see suffering or even discomfort.  The wicked will – use your imagination.  Everyone, of course is somewhere in-between and will receive exactly what he or she needs to complete his or her rectification.  It is all by design – with nothing random.  I have said it before and will say it again – those who think they can just blend into society – assimilate into the world population and not worry (after all armies will be protecting us – right?), are in for a big shock.  When the natural disasters start, you are on your own with only, I repeat, only Hashem’s mercy and help will get you through the rough times.

Is today judgment day?  Yes, everyday is judgment day.  Is today more significant than days before?  Probably, but we will not know until we get our final redemption (sort of our report card) and we know for sure that we did the right thing or we were stubborn enough to defy the truth about this world.  Can we still continue to grow in our ways by making changes and following the truth of the Torah (our handbook of life and in this case our survival kit)?  Absolutely, as long as we are still alive on this Earth, we still have opportunity to get it right.  How much longer do we have to get our act together?  That is completely up to Hashem and what He has planned for the near future.  If the war starts today and the devastation of earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, tornadoes, etc, follow immediately, you have your answer as to how much time you still have.  Please, please, please take all this seriously.  I have thousands of years of history that has been accurately told to us in prophecy to back up my plea.  I am not speculating but totally knowing and trusting the word that Hashem has given us.  It is the Absolute Truth.  Anyone who wants to gamble that this is not our destiny is a fool.  It is so obvious what is happening in the world and where it is going.  The specifics we won’t understand until it happens, after all, “don't expect what you expect, but expect the unexpected.”  Just be completely reassured that we know exactly how to make it all come out favorably for each of us – don’t fight the system but use it to your advantage.  It is your eternity and the eternity of your loved ones at stake.  Do the right thing and thank Hashem for His merciful guidance – you will be extremely happy about it and, probably, soon.

Enjoy your Simchas Torah and realize that we are celebrating the greatest gift the world has ever received.

Chag Somayach